Free 12-month online program to help get adults across Australia more active in 2025

Open to Move is designed to support people increase their physical activity and stick with a more active lifestyle long-term. Because it’s delivered entirely online, eligible adults aged 18 to 69 and no matter their current fitness levels, can get involved from across the country.

Participants receive 12 months of regular free support, including six months of individualised mentoring with a physical activity researcher, through online one-to-one Zoom meetings, with activity tracking via an app, all the while aiming to help increase their physical activity.

The lead researcher on Open to Move is Professor Christian Swann who also leads the Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Research (PASER) group in the Faculty of Health at Southern Cross University.

“We are really proud to launch Open to Move. It’s an exciting project designed by some of the world’s leading physical activity researchers, and we hope it’ll help people who are trying to get more active,” said Professor Swann.

“We’re able to provide free support for a whole year, including regular one-to-one meetings during the first six months, which is designed to help people build habits and stick with a more active lifestyle long-term.

“Best of all, we may even be able to help people achieve their New Year’s resolutions in 2025!”

As a participant, you will:

• receive guidance from leading experts on how to increase your physical activity
• have regular online one-to-one meetings with a researcher
• access the Open to Move app to help you track your progress
• provide feedback via surveys and interviews and help build the evidence base for Open to Move
• receive gift vouchers at the six-month and 12-month milestones as a thank you for your involvement

How to take part in the study

If you are aged between 18 to 69 years, living in Australia, own a smartphone, and are able to join meetings via Zoom, this program may fit you.

To find out more and to check eligibility, visit the Open to Move website or email EOI.opentomove@scu.edu.au  

This research is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council's Discovery Project scheme (DP240101163).

It is led by Southern Cross University in partnership with the University of Wollongong, the University of Southern Queensland, University of New South Wales, the University of British Columbia, the University of Lincoln, and the University of South Carolina, and the 10,000 Steps Program.

This study has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at Southern Cross University (HREC 2024/088).